COVID-19’s Third Wave Hits the Midw est, Taxing Sugary Drinks, and More

December 14, 2020

Until the fall, the pandemic’s impact in the Midwest had been lower than in other regions. But between September and November, the combined average daily new case rate across Midwestern metro areas rose fivefold. Alan Berube explains the effect this has had on economic activity in the region.

“The whole food system of the U.S., from crop to store, is broken: compromised by special interests, out of line with research, and exacerbated by inequality, by race as well as class.” Writing for our new Blueprints series, Richard Reeves argues for a tax on sugary drinks, the revenues from which could help underserved communities achieve better health outcomes.

As the politics of the country get even more polarized, never has an incoming administration with such grand ambitions faced so many constraints in what it can do. Despite this, financial markets present a significant opportunity to make progress on climate change, say David Victor, Sadie Frank, and Eric Gesick.

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